How to Play Lemonade Stand
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Check today's weather forecast — it determines how many customers will want lemonade.
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Buy supplies: each cup of lemonade requires 1 lemon, 1 sugar, 1 cup, and 1 ice.
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Set your price per cup. Higher prices mean more profit per sale but fewer customers.
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Click 'Open for Business!' to start selling for the day.
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Review your day's results: cups sold, revenue, expenses, and profit.
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Leftover lemons, sugar, and cups carry to the next day — but ice melts overnight!
- 7
Repeat for 7 days and try to maximize your total profit.
- 8
At the end of the week, you receive a letter grade based on your total earnings.
Key Features
Classic Business Simulation
Run your own lemonade stand for 7 days. Buy lemons, sugar, cups, and ice, then set your price to attract customers and earn profit.
Dynamic Weather System
Each day brings different weather — hot, sunny, cloudy, or rainy — that directly affects how many customers want lemonade. Hot days bring crowds, rainy days keep people home.
Supply & Demand Economics
Set your price too high and customers walk away. Set it too low and you leave money on the table. Learn the balance between pricing and demand.
Inventory Management
Leftover lemons, sugar, and cups carry over to the next day (ice melts!). Plan your purchases to minimize waste and maximize profit.
Daily Profit Tracking
See revenue, expenses, profit or loss, and customer satisfaction after each day. A final report card grades your week of business.
What is Lemonade Stand?
Lemonade Stand is a classic business simulation game where players run a virtual lemonade stand over 7 days. Each day, players must decide how many supplies to purchase and what price to charge per cup, while dealing with changing weather conditions that affect customer demand. The game teaches fundamental business concepts — revenue, expenses, profit, supply and demand, and inventory management — in an engaging, hands-on way that's accessible to players of all ages.
Why Play Lemonade Stand?
- 1
Teaches core business concepts like revenue, cost, and pr...
Teaches core business concepts like revenue, cost, and profit through hands-on simulation.
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Introduces supply and demand — players see how weather an...
Introduces supply and demand — players see how weather and pricing affect the number of customers.
- 3
Builds budgeting skills as players must manage limited ca...
Builds budgeting skills as players must manage limited cash to buy supplies each day.
- 4
Encourages strategic thinking about inventory — buy too m...
Encourages strategic thinking about inventory — buy too much and waste money, buy too little and miss sales.
- 5
Immediate feedback after each day helps players refine th...
Immediate feedback after each day helps players refine their strategy in real time.
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The 7-day structure makes games quick and replayable, enc...
The 7-day structure makes games quick and replayable, encouraging experimentation with different strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much starting money do I get?
You start with $20.00 in cash. Spend it wisely on supplies — you need to earn it back through sales!
What supplies do I need for each cup?
Each cup of lemonade requires 1 lemon ($0.15), 1 sugar ($0.08), 1 cup ($0.05), and 1 ice ($0.03), totaling $0.31 in production cost.
How does weather affect sales?
Hot days generate the most demand (1.6x multiplier), followed by sunny (1.2x), cloudy (0.7x), and rainy (0.3x). Always check the forecast before buying!
Do supplies carry over between days?
Lemons, sugar, and cups carry over to the next day. However, ice melts overnight and must be repurchased each day.
What determines my final grade?
Your grade is based on total profit over 7 days: A+ for $30+, A for $20+, B for $12+, C for $5+, D for breaking even, and F for a net loss.
What is the best pricing strategy?
There's no single best price — it depends on the weather and your costs. On hot days you can charge more; on rainy days, lower prices help attract the few customers who do come by. Experiment to find the sweet spot!